By Avtar Singh Shergill

Date:26-09-06

Source:

Music OF Punjabi film ‘Waris Shah Ishq Daa Waaris’ realesed in Chandigarh. The movie is due for release on 29th September. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has exempted this film from tax.

In the mellow years between 1722 and 1798 lived one Syed Waris Shah, Wandering around in Jandiala Sher Khan, District Sheikhupura, Punjab (now in Pakistan). He bled his soul over a beauteous Bhagpari, dipped his voice in soulful love and left Punjab many treasures richer with poetry. Today his story comes alive in a voice that probably the only one that comes closest Gurdas Maan’s. In his own words while last days music was release of Manjeet Maan’s Manoj Punj directed ‘Waris Shah Ishq Daa Waaris’, a Sai Production at Mounties, Chandigarh with the cast including Gurdas Maan, Juhi Chawla and Divya Dutta, we could barely stave off the urge to plug in right away.

Well if the promise if of re-visting a classic, in a voice baked in three decades, that doesn’t remain too much of an urge. And then there are other voices, made the most melodious of. Like Krishna’s a PU Chandigarh Pass-out, who sounds grown-up as he opens the album with a fiery ‘Katra Mila Samandar Se, Samandar ho gaya, aashiq mila jo Mantse, Kalandhar ho gaya.’ The Music director in Jaider Kumar has transformed this guitar-strummer into something of. Gurdas Maan with a sprinkling of Harbhajan Maan thrown. The pitch peaks to dramatic effect and words curve off at the edges. Very Punjabi folk, very much setting the tone.

In “Guddiyaan guddiyaan… ni asi wich, as maan udiyaan” Alka Yanknik * Kavita rishnamurthy sing away on a melodious, ribrant flight of the young when life’s weight has yet to come slouching. The poet in Maan lords over in the earthy way. “Dharti nu Chhad Asmaan te jo baindiyaan, Sarde Waangu jholi ch museebataan ne paindiyaan.”
Marked third on side A, “Kabootra we Kasda, tainu Sacche Rab da Vaasta.. ashqaan de dilaan nu milaun waaleya jiunda reh we chittiyaan pahuchaan waaliya…” has been on TV for somedays now. Andit sounds many layers more honeyed when the ears catch the strum and thaap of the folk instruments, flavored with ‘Wanjhali’. The dense chords that Maan delivers are caught and coupled by Alka Yagnik just right. This ode to the pigeon the bond-maker of those days, flutters sweetly.

And the flight takes a Sufi turn with “Allah hu toomba Kehnda” very popular song now days. On TV that takes off on a toombi and soon, harmonimm and tabla pick tone, with the qawwali playing Love over all. Maan is passionate all cinders and soul. “Pailaan ishq Khuda ne Kita Nabi Mashooq banaaya, dooja ishq Ali ne kita sher-a-khuda Kahaaya… Ishq bandage, isq zindagi murshid ne phar maaya, Allah hut u bakendaen.” It does not need our words now.

“Khaas shama oj tere layi jagaayi hoi ae…” could have been another song of Saab’s seoluction and Waris Shah’s Survival of it.

Side B takes off yet again on a note quite of war cry except that it celebrates love. “Yeh intihaan-e-ishq hai sajde mein aake dekh…” with a sprinkling of drama, the play of words grabs. Like have, “Apne Khuda ke beech mein Khuda Ko Mita Kedekh.” Then “dosto lo aaya gay, ghadi o jaan di… waftson a soulful note with women humming from some where in the mustared fields, “Uchcha neeva bol je hove kise ni boleya, karni khuda de vaaste khechal bhulaandi…” takes us to moist moment. Maan rounds off the album with couplet of Heer, Celebrating beauty, devotion, love. Does the music of this film, set to release 29th of this month, remined you of Maan’s earlier songs and films like ‘Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Buta Singh’ and “Des Hoya Pardes”. Some feel there is similarity in at least one or two songs. Yet, one cannot resist listening to the album time again.